Aldean, Chesney lead Billboard charts

Tuesday, October 18, 2016 – Jason Aldean's "They Don't Know" topped the Billboard Country Albums chart for the week ending Oct. 29. Kenny Chesney was first on the Hot Country Songs chart with "Setting the World on Fire," featuring Pink.

Chris Stapleton was second on the albums chart with "Traveller." Florida Georgia Line was third with "Dig Your Roots." Keith Urban placed fourth with "Ripcord" and Dolly Parton fifth with "Pure & Simple."

Blake Shelton moved from ninth to sixth with "If I'm Honest." Mo Pitney debuted in 10th with his debut "Behind This Guitar." Tucker Beathard debuted at 14 with his "Fight Like Hell" EP. Brett Cobb's "Shine on Rainy Day" entered the chart at 17. Newcomer Buddy Brown was 22nd on his first week on the chart with "I Call BS On That" EP.

Urban was second on the songs chart with "Blue Ain't Your Color." Cole Swindell was third with "Middle of a Memory." LoCash went from seventh to fourth with "I Know Somebody." Billy Currington came in fifth with "It Don't Hurt Like It Used To."

Alden was ninth with "A Little More Summertime," up 3. Brett Young also climbed 3, to 11 with "Sleep Without You." Brad Paisley's "Today" was the biggest mover, jumping from 49th to 12th. Carrie Underwood was at 18, up 5, with "Dirty Laundry."

Drake White stood at 21 with "Livin' The Dream," up 3. Eric Church was at 23 with "Kill a Word," up 5. The song features Rhiannon Giddens. Lauren Alaina is in the top 25 - at 25 - with "Road Less Traveled," up 2.

On the Bluegrass Albums Chart, Dwight Yoakam was first with "Swimmin' Pools, Movie Stars..." Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, first last week, was second with "Circlin' Back: Celebrating 50 Years, Live at the Ryman Auditorium, TN." Bradley Walker was third with "Call Me Old-fashioned." Mandolin Orange held fifth with "Blindfaller." The Devil Makes Three was fifth with "Redemption & Ruin." Nothin' Fancy debuted in sixth with "Where I Came From."

On the Americana/Folk Albums chart, Bon Iver was again first with "22, A Million." Van Morrison was second with "Keep Me Singing," Stapleton third with "Traveller," Shovels & Rope fourth with "Little Seeds" and Bob Weird fifth with "Blue Mountain."

On the overall top 200, Florida Georgia Line was 21st, Aldean 25th, Stapleton 28th, Urban 38th and Sam Hunt 75 with "Montevallo." The top 200 and country charts use different criteria.

CD reviews for Jason Aldean

Arguing whether or not Jason Aldean's kinda (country) party is, in fact, anything remotely related to true country music is pointless. Aldean is so entrenched in the mainstream country marketplace now, we just need to accept him as he is, the same way we reluctantly accept Taylor Swift as "country." It's mighty tempting to subtitle a review of Aldean's new "Old Boots, New Dirt" release as 'Pickup Trucks & Pickup Lines,' as Aldean spends a little time »»»

Jason Aldean is getting used to the view from the top. His last album "My Kinda Party" spawned 5 Top 10 singles and has charted for almost 2 years. Driven by rocking country coupled with rap and a power ballad, that album seemed to rise to the top of the charts organically. With his fifth release, "Night Train," he seems to be taking dead aim at the summit.
Aldean is at his best as a studly outlaw, but the majority of the material on "Night Train" is clichéd »»»

Jason Aldean covers plenty of familiar ground in his latest offering, moving with ease from tanned-leg Georgia dreams to square cornfields to a fairly even mix of church pews and bar stools. If anything, the album is a bit too seamless, one song melding into the next, the words on many evaporating into thin air.
But it all adds up to a very good time - exactly what you'd hope for with an album with "party" in its title. Don't Wanna Stay , a duet with Kelly Clarkson (of all »»»

Editorial: Walking the talk –
When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»

Concert Review: Cantrell continues to satisfy –
Laura Cantrell may never be a country star. Not at this stage of her career when she's 50, touring here and there and releasing new music every few years or so. But five albums in, Cantrell continues as a warm, enjoyable and worthy purveyor of her brand of country.
That would mean going towards a more traditional side, not rushing the songs... »»»

Concert Review: Not only is Turner traditional, he's popular –
Every time Josh Turner reached for some of those wonderful subterranean low notes, which he often pulled out during his enjoyable night show, it was like a superhero applying a superpower. He didn't need this extra advantage to please his audience; he has so many quality songs stockpiled in his catalogue already doing the job.... »»»

Dan Tyminski (known simply as "Tyminski" on his 2017 release "Southern Gothic") has traditional music roots and unassailable bluegrass street cred especially given his membership in Alison Krauss' Union Station. He is also a powerful songwriter and has been writing songs for himself and others for years now.... »»»

Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn have powerhouse individual talents; each has followed an estimable career path to where they find themselves today: making complex, but spare, records, writing music together and touring with their son Juno. Their new release, "Echoes In The Valley" features mostly songs written by Fleck and Washburn, banjos, Washburn's strong vocals and very little else.... »»»

Legends don't come any more legendary than Chris Hillman. The roll call of bands that comprises Hillman's half century in music reads like a wing exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas, the Souther Hillman Furay Band, the Desert Rose Band,... »»»

"Boys from Back Home" is Scotty McCreery's amalgamation of Kenny Chesney's "I Go Back" and "Boys of Fall," which even borrows words from each hit song to create something attempting to be new. It's not new. »»»

With a group history that spans over 50 years, gospel and country music mainstays The Oak Ridge Boys are at a place when they could conceivably rest on their laurels, release a few greatest hits records and coast the rest of the way through their careers, and fans would still be pleased. »»»

Dave Adkins stepped to the plate and swung for the fences. His monster swing found the sweet spot and delivered a game-winning home run. "Right or Wrong" is filled with hot picking, great vocal presentations and a risk or two that absolutely pay off. If Adkins was trying to outshine previous releases, he may have done so. »»»

East Nashville may be known as "the" Americana hotbed these days, but some of the talent there is very much verging on rock 'n roll. This is the case with Lynn Taylor & the BarFlies on their third release, a collection of personal tunes by the front man. »»»

When Doc Watson passed away in 2012 at the age of 89, his legacy as one of the most treasured and iconic figures of American country and folk music was embodied in nearly five decades worth of highly regarded recordings, both live and in the studio, and for many up and coming musicians... »»»

It's impossible to listen to Montgomery Gentry's "Here's to You," without also feeling sad that it's the last studio album featuring Troy Gentry, who died in a helicopter crash. When they sing, "Here's to the on... »»»